WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – In its conference-opener, the 10th-ranked Saint Leo baseball team notched a 14-4 road victory at Palm Beach Atlantic on Friday night in Sunshine State Conference (SSC) action. With the win, the Lions improved to 8-1 overall and opened conference play with a 1-0 mark.

The Lions struck first in the top of the first after senior Mikey Scott sacrificed-flied to left field to drive home sophomore Dylan Mass from third. Later in the first, Saint Leo added on to its lead as senior Josh Davis crossed home plate on a passed ball, 2-0. The Sailfish answered back in the bottom of the first with a pair of runs to tie the game 2-2. In the second inning, the Green and Gold continued to roll as it extended their advantage by six runs. Graduate student Buck Anderson drove in junior Dylan McDonald on an RBI-single followed by Scott launching a double to bat in another run. Junior Callen Moss registered a two-run single to left field to give the Lions a 6-2 cushion. Senior Cooper Miles walked with the bases loaded as Davis scored again while McDonald batted-in Moss on a fielder's choice, 8-2.

In the top of the third, Moss once again helped the Green and Gold stretch their lead as he blasted a two-run single to center field. PBA scored a run in the third to cut its deficit to 10-3. Scott crossed the dish again in the fifth on an error followed by senior Caleb Adams scoring in the sixth after Mass reached on an error, 12-3. In the seventh, the Lions extended their lead by two runs, first from a passed ball then by a wild pitch as they led by a 14-4 margin. The Sailfish were able to score a run in the eighth on a sacrifice-fly, 14-4, and were held at bay for the remainder of the game.

Nine different players were able to tally hits for the Lions, led by Moss who went 3-for-3 with four RBI while being walked once. Scott finished the game 1-for-2 with two RBI, two walks, and a pair of runs scored. Davis registered two runs and two walks. Additionally, Adams walked a total of three times and scored twice.

On the mound, senior Brayden Heidel notched the victory as he improves to 3-0 on the season. He only surrendered six hits, three runs and struck out a pair of batters in 5.0 innings of work. In his second career appearance on the bump, freshman Judd Hildreth collected a trio of strikeouts on 13 pitches in just one inning.

Saint Leo returns to the diamond tomorrow, Saturday, February 24, as it concludes its weekend series at PBA with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.